The Everlasting Covenant

“Ready to Forgive.”

After the building of the tabernacle, sacrifices could not be offered in any other place; yet many of the people would necessarily be far away from it. Three times a year they were to assemble to it to worship. But they did not have to wait for those seasons to come, in order to receive forgiveness of the sins that they might have committed in the meantime. Whenever a man might be when he sinned, and became conscious of the plague of his own heart, he could acknowledge the sin to the Lord, who was always at hand, and experience, as well as we can, that “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” ¹ This is demonstrated in the case of David, when the prophet of God reproved him. David said, “I have sinned against the Lord;” and immediately came the assurance, “The Lord also hath put away thy sin.” ² EVCO 349.3

When this had taken place, then the repentant and forgiven soul could “offer the sacrifices of righteousness” ³ which would be acceptable to God. Then would the Lord be pleased with burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings upon His altar. And why?—Because they showed the gratitude of the heart, and because they were a recognition of the fact that all belonged to God, and that everything came from Him. In all true sacrifice there is the underlying principle that He who saves the soul is abundantly able to supply all physical needs, even though every vestige of worldly goods should be consumed. It is not the thought that we are giving to God, but that God gives to us, that makes the true sacrifice, since the only real sacrifice is the sacrifice of Christ. This was plainly manifest in every sacrifice that was offered. The people could see that they were not enriching the Lord, for the sacrifice was consumed. Every one who offered intelligently—everyone who worshipped in spirit and in truth—simply indicated that he depended solely on God both for the life that now is and for that which is to come. EVCO 350.1